Questions about Spokane (Seattle, Opportunity, Orchards: safe area, schools, camping)

[abautista]

my name is abigail. i currently live in san diego, ca. it's become too costly to live here, and i've been thinking of moving to spokane. my best friend and her boyfriend already live there,and they've offered me a room. but, i still have questions and concerns. i'm just going to put them "laundry list style", and hopefully someone will be able to provide some good answers.

1. is spokane multi-racial? i'm filipino/asian-american(but i grew up here, so english is my first main language). will i be ostricized? are people mean?

2. is the unemployment rate high? how about if i don't mind working at restuarants part-time?

3. it's my goal to teach pre-school,and i have a certificate from a community college here in san diego to work with infants and toddlers. what are the prospects there in spokane? what are the qualifications?

4. what are the libraries like?

5. are there good grocery stores that provide a wide array of products? i only drink soy milk, and am trying to have a gluten free diet.

6. what's the shopping like?

7. what's the sales tax?

8. i don't have a lot that a person can steal, but, what's the crime rate like?

[kena]

1. You might want to look at my reply on the moving from Nashville to Spokane thread. You'll find Spokane not nearly as diverse as southern California but I don't think people will be mean to you based on your race. Spoakne, like all other places has its issues but overall I think you'll be fine. See this link for a recent community diversity celebration: The Spokesman-Review.com

2. The employment situation is pretty good right now in Spokane. A recent article: Spokane Journal of Business - The Business Newspaper For The Inland Northwest

3. I don't think you'll have a hard time finding pre-school employment. I know several people who work in that field and didn't struggle to find work. I'm not sure what wages are like in San Diego but you might want to see what the difference is compared to Spokane (of course, cost of living is lower in Spokane).

4. The library system is pretty good. In the past few years there has been some funding issues in terms of keeping the libraries open at full hours (though I think it has improved recently) but the physical state of the library system is very good.

5. You'll probably miss whole foods (though they are said to be coming to town in the near future) and trader joe's (recently put plans to open a store here on hold) but you'll find local alternatives such as huckleberry's might fit what you're looking for.

6. What type of shopping are you wondering about?

7. Sales tax is just under 9% (I think) but there is no state income tax in WA.

8. Check this website for facts about crime and a map of the area with all calls for police service: Spokane Community Oriented Policing (C.O.P.S.)

Good luck with your decision.

[khansen]

moved here three years ago. i very much regret not renting first. there are so many areas the agent didnt show us. i felt they showed us what they wanted to sell. found out too late there were wonderful less costly homes we could have renovated in quaint areas. instead we bought new and are not pleezed with all the growth. tear down the trees to put in houses. just like calif now.

[khansen]

rent first. we didnt and big regret. so many areas to live in. look everywhre!!!! agents will show you what they want to sell. keep looking. we found they showed us new when there were wonderful older properties with lots of charm we could have renovated for the same price and had something wonderful. we bought in liberty lake. but the agent never even showed us the lake. found out after we bought we could have bought ON THE LAKE and we never knew. do not trust the agent. do your own research.

[khansen]

Originally Posted by maryj0987

my husband and I are an inter- racial couple, I'm caucasion, and he's black....we're thinking of moving to Spokane....but I'm concerned now about the "lack of diversity" and the white supremacy issue. Can anyone shed some light on this?

very few blacks as far as i can tell. been here 3 yrs. at least not in the valley. schools are 99% white.

[khansen]

Originally Posted by abautista

my name is abigail. i currently live in san diego, ca. it's become too costly to live here, and i've been thinking of moving to spokane. my best friend and her boyfriend already live there,and they've offered me a room. but, i still have questions and concerns. i'm just going to put them "laundry list style", and hopefully someone will be able to provide some good answers.

1. is spokane multi-racial? i'm filipino/asian-american(but i grew up here, so english is my first main language). will i be ostricized? are people mean?

2. is the unemployment rate high? how about if i don't mind working at restuarants part-time?

3. it's my goal to teach pre-school,and i have a certificate from a community college here in san diego to work with infants and toddlers. what are the prospects there in spokane? what are the qualifications?

4. what are the libraries like?

5. are there good grocery stores that provide a wide array of products? i only drink soy milk, and am trying to have a gluten free diet.

6. what's the shopping like?

7. what's the sales tax?

8. i don't have a lot that a person can steal, but, what's the crime rate like?

u will not find many asians. i am from calif and find the lack of diversity disturbing.

[khansen]

Originally Posted by Poor Richard

Talk to Dezda Finn at XRE Spot realty on Third Avenue. She is an experienced property manager, a very nice person, and will help you get into a building if your credit is decent, you have sufficient income and little children don't run away from you in terror. Her number is 509-599-0918.

I just spent the weekend with my daughter and son-in-law in Spokane. Overall, I think it would be a pretty good place to live. We made an offer on a house in the Kendall Yards area (Felony Flats) because we believe that area will revitalize in the next five years.

The negative that stands out for me about Spokane is that there is no well-thought-out plan to help the homeless get on their feet. Here in Seattle we have committed a lot of resources to the homeless, and I believe this will pay off for us here. Maybe we have a stronger tax base; I honestly don't know enough about the differences in the two cities to comment.

Also, before my daughter and son-in-law were established with health insurance they had to rely on the public health system here. Spokane seems to be sadly lacking in this area.

I cannot tolerate hot weather, therefore Spokane is not an option for me. It was 81 degrees there yesterday and I thought I would die. (Anything over 75 degrees feels hot!) However, the spring is gorgeous, and everything is blooming. If you can deal with blazing hot summers and long, cold winters Spokane could be a great place for you.

i am from calif. i do not find the summer blazing hot at all. and i wouldnt say the winters were long and cold. at least not in three years weve been here. spring nad fall are gorgeous. salaries are crap. i am 53 yrs old nad make less here than i did when i was 22 yrs old in calif. yes housing is cheaper but wages are low low low low low.

[khansen]

Originally Posted by dldavis

Hello All, I am from Orange County in California. My town is inbetween San Diego and Los Angeles. I am no longer able to handle the prices, amount of people, traffic and very left wing thought process (hollywood). My job will allow me to move anywhere. I was narrowing down Spokane but now have a few reservations after reading pages and pages of blogs. I still have high hopes for Spokane. Here are my questions:

I want to live outside of the city limits and up to 30 miles away. My job base will most likely be the airport. I have had to live in an apartment for years due to our housing costs. My hobbies are fishing, hiking, gardening, reading, bike riding and want 2 dogs since I have had to be dog deprived since living in Orange County Apartments. My questions are: What cities do you recommend outside of Spokane up to 30 miles away? Also I noticed alot of people on this site are from Colorado and Montana which I am also looking into so if you have any suggestions in those cities as well that would be great. I am a single woman making 50k so I am on a pretty tight budget. I do not wish to have neighbors close as I have had to live with that for years now and really need space. I love to drive and need a city and that within a 4 hr. or so drive can be in the mountains to camp, fish and explore. Thank you for all responses in advance. - Diane

couer d'alene idaho!!!

[st33lcas3]

Originally Posted by dldavis

I want to live outside of the city limits and up to 30 miles away. My job base will most likely be the airport. I have had to live in an apartment for years due to our housing costs. My hobbies are fishing, hiking, gardening, reading, bike riding and want 2 dogs since I have had to be dog deprived since living in Orange County Apartments. My questions are: What cities do you recommend outside of Spokane up to 30 miles away? Also I noticed alot of people on this site are from Colorado and Montana which I am also looking into so if you have any suggestions in those cities as well that would be great. I am a single woman making 50k so I am on a pretty tight budget. I do not wish to have neighbors close as I have had to live with that for years now and really need space. I love to drive and need a city and that within a 4 hr. or so drive can be in the mountains to camp, fish and explore. Thank you for all responses in advance. - Diane

Cheney is a good choice, especially if your going to work at the airport. It's about twenty miles west of Spokane.
Cheney, Washington - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[bamn29]

I am new to this "forum" stuff, can someone please give me their opinion on "Green Acres" in Washington State. We are thinking of moving to that area, but know very little about it. Have an 8 yr old son, so must consider the schools very carefully as well as weather and people personalities. Thanks